Plate electrode assembly for electrostatic precipitator



Dec. 17, 1963 PLATE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR Filed Oct. 21. 1960 R- A. PALMORE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. PALMORE AT TOR N EY R. A. PALMORE 3,114,616

PLATE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1960 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. PALMORE United States Patent 3,114,616 PLATE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRO- STATIC PRECIPETATGR Robert Palmore, Louisville, Ky, assignor to American Air Filter Company, line, Louisville, Ky, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 21, 1966, S91. No. 64,012 1 Claim. or. 55-443 This invention relates to electrostatic precipitators and more particularly to an improved plate electrode assembly for electrostatic precipitators.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved plate electrode assembly is provided which insures effective electrical contact between select parts of the assembly to reduce possible problems of arc-over and which, at the same time, strengthens the several plates of the assembly with only a minimum, controlled and localized distortion of the plates. The present invention obtains these features without sacrificing any of the desirable features of past electrode assemblies, the present invention further providing an assembly which can be economically and readily constructed and assembled in an efiicient manner with a minimum of operating steps and with few materials involved.

Various other features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

More particularly, the present invention provides a plate electrode assembly for an electrostatic precipitator comprising a plurality of plates spaced from each other a predetermined distance, the plates having openings therein of preselected oil-round contour and spacer bar means of cross-sectional contour which in one position of the bar conforms substantially to the contour of the openings to permit passage of the spacer bar means through the openings, the spacer bar means having sets of corresponding slots extending transverse the longitudinal axis of the spacer bar means with the slots of each set being spaced from each other substantially the same distance as the plates, the slots being of sufficient depth and breadth to permit rotation of the spacer bar means about its longitudinal axis from one position to another when the spacer bar means has been passed through the plate openings and the slots are aligned with the plates so that the plates engage in the slots to be maintained in spaced relationship, and camming means between the plates and spacer bar means adjacent the slots to hold the plates in firm, contacting relationship with the spacer bar means.

It is to be understood that various changes can be made in the arrangement, form and construction of the several parts of the structure disclosed herein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings which disclose one advantageous embodiment of the present invention:

FIGURE 1 is a partial face elevation of a plate electrode assembly arrangement which embodies the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial side elevation taken in a plane passing through line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a portion of the spacer bar of the present invention including the fin members attached thereto, the fin members having sets of transverse slots running along opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the bar with the slots of one set corresponding with the slots of the other in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the spacer bar of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of one plate, disclosing an opening in the plate with "ice which a spacer bar like that of FIGURES 3 and 4 cooperates, the opening having raised mating surfaces for camming action on opposite sides of the periphery thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of a plate similar to that of FIGURE 5, further disclosing a cross section of a spacer bar after it has been inserted into the opening of the plate and rotated into operational position;

FIGURES 7 through 9 is a series of enlarged, schematic, partial plan views, disclosing in sequence the steps involved in assembling the plates and spacer bars of the electrode assembly of FIGURES l-6;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, slightly exaggerated view of a portion of a spacer bar and plate, further disclosing in broken lines the camming means in the form of raised surfaces; and,

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view similar to that of FIGURE 10 but with the spacer bar turned 90 into plate engagement.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2. of the drawings, plate assembly 2, which embodies the present invention, includes charged end plates 3 from which are supported, intermediate thereto, the charged plates 4. Charged plates 4 are arranged in spaced, parallel relationship to each other and have positioned in alternate arrangement therewith, spaced parallel grounded electrode plates 5.

Plates 5 are supported from grounded end plates 6 which, in turn, are attached to the housing of the precipitator (not shown) and which support end plates 3- by means of insulators 7.

The principal features of the present invention are incorporated in a structure utilized for supporting the intermediate electrode arrangements from their respec tive end plates. As can be seen particularly in FIGURES l, 2, 5 and 6, each electrode plate 4- is provided with support openings therein. It is to be understood that in one advantageous embodiment of the invention, four or more of such openings can be provided in each plate. The plates 4 are loaded in a jig for proper parallel spacing and for proper alignment of corresponding support openings. It is to be noted that each of the support openings in the advantageous embodiment of the invention disclosed is of substantially elliptical contour (as indicated in FIGURES 5 and 6), the major axis Y-Y of the ellipse extending in a vertical direction along the plate and the minor axis XX extending in a horizontal direction.

Once plates 4 are properly set in a jig, spacer bar members 11 are inserted through the aligned sets of openings 8. As can be seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings, spacer bars 11 are of a cross-sectional contour advantageously conforming substantially to the contour of the support openings 8, providing limited tolerances therebetween when passed through the openings after being properly orientated in alignment with such openings. In this connection, it is to be noted that spacer bars 11 can be of substantially circular cross-sectional contour of a diameter conforming to the minor axis XX of the openings 8. Spacer bar members 11, which are substantially alike, are each provided with fin portions 12 and 12' which extend from diametrically opposite sides of that portion of the spacer bar of circular cross-sectional contour, the distance between extremities of fins 12 and 12' being slightly less than the distance along the major axis YY of elliptical openings 8. Sets of slots 13 and 13' are provided in fin portions 12 and 12 respectively so as to extend transverse the longitudinal axis of spacer bar members 11 on opposite sides thereof, with corresponding slots of one set being substantially opposite corresponding slots of the adjacent set. The slots in each set 13 and 113' are spaced from each other a preselected distance which distance is substantially the same as the distance that the plates 4 are spaced from each other in a jig during plate electrode assembly (as will be seen hereinafter). It is to be noted that slots 13, 13 are of sufficient depth and breadth to permit rotation of spacer bar 11 about its longitudinal axis from one position to another when the spacer bar has been passed through plate openings 8 of plates 4 and the slots are in proper alignment with the plates. In this connection, it also is to be noted that as the spacer bar is rotated the sides of slots 13, 13 engage with camming means in the form of raised rib-like members 16, 16' which are positioned on opposite sides and around the peripheries of openings 8. These rib-like members, each of which can be contoured to gradually rise out of the plane of the plate from its opposite ends so that the high point rests along line XX of elliptical openings 8, serve to provide a camming action between the plates and the bar 11 adjacent the slots 13, 13' to hold the plates in firm contacting relationship with the spacer bar.

With the arrangement described, it is possible to hold the electrode plates of an assembly in properly spaced relationship, lock the assembly into desired position and, at the same time, establish a small controlled curvature of a balanced nature in the plates around the openings to impart additional strength to such plates. It is to be noted that the limited tolerance provided between spacer bars 11 and openings 8, as above mentioned, avoids accurate machine requirements and permits ready assembly of the several parts of the overall structure without requiring precise jig alignment. It is to be understood that the spacer bars can be cast, rolled or press formed, and, in some instances, can be extruded advantageously from some suitable material such as aluminum.

Referring to FIGURES 7 through 9 of the drawings, the several steps of the assembly and plates are disclosed in detail. In assembly, plates 4 are supported in a jig (not shown) in spaced relationship to each other with the corresponding support openings 8 in alignment, the spacing between plates being the same as the spacing of the transverse slots in sets 13, and 13 of spacer bars 11. Bars 11 are then inserted through the openings 8, the bars being orientated so that the fin portions 12 and 12' are in alignment with the major axis Y-Y of the openings 8. When each of the sets of slots 13, 13 of each bar is opposite its matching plate 4, the bar is turned about its longitudinal axis through a 90 angle so that the plates engage in the sets of corresponding slots 13 and 13. In this connection, and as aforestated, it will be noted that the sets of corresponding slots 13 and 13' are of sul'ficient depth and breadth to permit this action, the slots being flared as at 14, 14' to insure such turning and to facilitate the operation. Since the camming means or rib-like members 16, 16 are provided alongside each of plate openings 8, when the bar members 11 are turned through a 90 angle the sides of the slots engage against the camming means to provide a fast wedging contact between the spacer bars and plates. As a result of the wedging action between the raised surfaces 16 and 16 and the sides of slots 13, 13', a slight distortion is set up in the plates along opposite sides of openings 8, with the distortion on one side of each opening being substantially like the distortion on the other sidethe slight distortion serving to insure further strength to the plate structure. Hence, the rib-like members not only serve to strengthen the plates but also serve to effect a tight engagement between slots 13, 13 and plates 4 without undesirable plate distortion so that an effective electrical contact is provided during electrical precipitating operation.

To fasten the assembly to end plates 3, the spacer bars 11 are tapped at their extremities to receive tap screws i- 17 which hold the spacer bars to plates 3. With the spacer bars properly in position in the assembly, the plates in the assembly are spaced correctly and cannot be changed until the spacer bars 11 are unfastened from end plates 3, turned and withdrawn from the plate openings.

It is to be noted that when inserting spacer bars 11 into openings 8 of plates 4, provision is made in the form of cutaways 10 in grounded plates 5 and 6 (FIG- URES 1 and 2) to permit such assembly and provide proper electrical clearance where necessary. It further is to be noted that grounded plates 5 and 6 can be provided with spacer bar arrangements similar to that provided with the charged plates 3 and 4 and the charged plates 3 and i can, in turn, be provided with cutaways 10 to permit proper insertion and clearance of the spacer bars of the grounded plates.

The invention claimed is:

A. collector plate electrode assembly for an electrostatic precipitator for precipitating contaminants from a dirty gas stream comprising a plurality of thin sheet electrode plates spaced from each other a predetermined distance, said plates having adjacent openings therein of preselected elf-round contour and spacer bar means of cross-sectional contour which in one position of the bar conforms substantially to the contour of said openings to permit passage of said spacer bar means through said openings, said spacer bar means having sets of corresponding slots extending transverse the longitudinal axis of said spacer bar means with the slots of each set being spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said plates, each of said slots including a pair of spaced opposite disposed side walls of sufiicient depth and spacing to permit rotation of said spacer bar means about its longitudinal axis from one position to another when said spacer bar means has been passed through said plate openings and said slots are aligned with said plates wherein said plates engage in said slots to be maintained in spaced relation, and camming means comprising pairs of rib-like members integral with said plates and adjacent the openings of said plates, said rib-like members of each pair being positioned in spaced relationship on substantially opposite sides of the periphery of an opening and displaced from the planar surface of the plate with which they are integral with corresponding ends of each of the rib-like members sloping gradually out of the plane of the plate in the same direction around the periphery of the opening, said rib-like members extending transverse the depth of the slots with which they engage after assembly to hold said plates in fast contacting relationship with said spacer bar means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,734 Hochhausen May 16, 1905 1,132,021 Mark et al Mar. 16, 1915 2,642,952 Landgraf June 23, 1953 2,798,277 Flora July 9, 1957 3,017,952 Westlin Jan. 23, 1962 3,017,953 Rivers Jan. 23, 1962 3,018,844 Gonzalez Jan. 30, 1962 3,018,846 Czerwonka et al Jan. 30, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 773,867 France Sept. 10, 1934 893,555 Germany Oct. 15, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES German printed application 1,035,226, July 31, 1958. 

